Loose-leaf binder.



Patented oct. 10,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l5 H. C. MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED luNE 5.1915.

abl.- -ML H. C. MILLER.

Loose LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE L.3, 1915.

1,201,214. Patented 001.1111916.

f 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. e.

HENRY C. MILLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF` BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed J une 5, 1915. Serial No. 32,317.

To all whom z may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and VState ofIITisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loose-LeafBinders, of which the following is a description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders and moreparticularly to that type in which the leaves are removably locked tothe cover and back by hinged prongs.

It is o ne of the objects of the present invention to provide a looseleaf binder in which the prongs are held firmly in locked position andmay be easily swung to open position to release the leaves.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binderhaving a simple means for attaching the prongs and connected parts tothe cover and back portion of the binder. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binderwhich is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is welladapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention relates to theimproved loose leaf binder and its parts and combinations as seb forthin the claims and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Figure l is a top view of a portion of the improved loose leaf binder,the binder bein shown in o en osition Fi .2 is a transverse sectionalview thereof taken on line` 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional detailview taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectionaldetail view of a modified form of binder; Fig. 6 is a top view ofanother modilied form of binder; Fig. 7 is a transverse 4sectionaldetail view thereof taken on line` on line 11-11 of Fig. 8; Fig. l2 is alongitudinal sectional detail view taken on line 12 -12 of Fig. 8, theprongs being shown as in closed position; and Fig. 13 is assimilar v1ewwith the prongs being shown as in open position.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 15 lndicates the cover whichcomprises the side portions 16 joined together by the back port1on 17. Apair of prong or hook plates 1.8 are positioned adjacent to the backportion and have their inner edges hingedly connected together byangular tie members 19 which are engaged by notched portions 20 of theprong plates. The prong plates are held yieldingly in open or closedposition by spring members 21 having hooked end .portions 21 which hookover notched portions 18 of the outer edges of the prong plates. Themedial portions of the, spring members are coiledor looped as indicatedby the numeral 22 Ato permit the use of longer springs than couldotherwise be used and to also provide means for' removably securing thespring members to the cover back.

In constructing the cover back 17 a metal reinforcing plate 23 isinterposed between and attached to the thicknesses of the materlal ofthe cover back and is provided with projecting eyed portions 24 whichoverlap the plane of the spring loops and a locking bar 25 extendsthrough the loops 22 and the eyed portions 21 and removably locks theparts together. The locking bar may be withdrawn endwise to disengagethe parts.

Semicircular shaped prongs 26 are mounted in pairs on the prong platesand their upper free ends overlap each other when in closed position toform a circular leaf holding means for holding removable leaves A. Asthe inner edges of the prong plates swing above and below the plane ofconnection of the springs with the outer edges of the plates, the plateswill be yicldingly held in their upper or lower position and the prongsmounted thereon in either open or closed position. The angular faces 19of the tie members 19 serve to limit the upper and lower movement of theplates, and when in their lower position the upper ends of the curvedprongs partly overlap and abut against each other. Vhile the prongs 'maybe swung to open position by pulling the prongs apart, it has been foundmore desirable to provide Patented Oct. 10, 1916. j

a push button means for accomplishing the same result. This meanscomprises abell crank lever 27 which is interposed between the-cover'back and the prong plates and is pivotally connected to said coverback. The short arm 28 of the lever engages the inner edge portions ofthe prong plates and the outer vend of the long arm 28 projectsoutwardly from the cover back and is adapted to be pressed downwardly toswingJ the short arm upwardly and the prong plates to open position.'

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5 the spring 29 is slightly differentfrom the springs '21 in that it extends over the upper portionslofthe-prong plates and its loop 30 depends through an opening 31 formedbetween the said prong plates. .The locking bar 25 extends through theloopin the same manner as before described to lock the plates to thecover back.

In the Figs. 5 and 6 modified forms the outer edge portions of the prongplates are bent to form eyed portions 32 through which extend pintlehinge pins 33. The outer edge portions of the prong plates are notchedas indicated' by the numeral 34 to expose the pintle pins and toaccommodate the eyed ends'35 of the spring members 21 and form a hingeconnection therebetween.

In the modified forms illustrated in Figs. 8 t0 13 inclusive, the use ofspring members is eliminated and in lieu thereof a slidable lockingmember is provided which may be moved to open or close th'e prongs. Theslidable member 36 is provided with angularly disposed groovesorrecesses 37 which incline downwardly toward each other at their outerend portions as shown in Fig. 10.

From the outer end portions, in a direction toward the inner end'ofthelmember, the inclination of the grooves or recesses gradually changeand at the inner end ofthe member the grooves extend upwardly towardeach other as shown in Fig. 1 1. The adjacent ends of the pron platesare adapted toenterthe grooves of the locking member when said vmemberis pushed inwardly and in entering the grooves the prong plates will beforced downwardly to closed position and locked in said position whilethe locking member is in closed position.

In order to permit the prong plates to the abutting edges of the prongplates are cut away to form an elongated opening 42 to receive thegrooved portion of a slidable wedge member 43 which is adapted to swingthe prong plates to open position". The

-.wedge member is linked to a wire loop 44 which forms part of andprojects inwardly from the locking member and is moved thereby. Thewedge member is positioned with its inclined portion 45 adjacent to theangular face of the bent portion 40 so that as the locking member ispulled outwardly to' unlock the prong plates the wedge member will rideup the angular bump 40 and swing the prong plates to open position. Whenin open position'the lower Hat portion 44 of the wedge member will restupon the upper flat portion of the bump and the parts will remain inopen position.

For convenience in operating the locking member, it is provided with aflat end plate 36 which may be easily engaged by the linger of the userto open or close the prongs.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the loose leafbinder is of Very simple construction and is well adapted for thepurpose described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of plates vhaving leafholdingprongs projecting' therefrom, means interposed between the platesfor hingedly connecting the inner longitudinal edge portions of theplates together, a plurality of yielding members having bent-Tendportions which extend over the outer longitudinal. edges of the platesfor holding the plates in open or closed position, and means engagingthe yielding members for attaching the plates to a cover back.

2. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of -plates having leaf holdingprongs projecting therefrom, means for hingedly connecting the innerlongitudinal edge portions of the plates together, a plurality ofvlooped springs having bent end portions which engage the outer edgeportions of the plates for holding the plates in open or closedposition, and means for engaging the spring loops for attaching theplates to a cover back.

3. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of plates having leaf holdingprongs projecting therefrom, means for hingedly connecting the innerlongitudinal edge portions of the plates together, a plurality of loopedsprings having bent end portions which en- -gage the outer edge portionsof the plates for holding the plates in open or closed position, 'and alocking bar extending through the loops for attaching theplates to thecover back.

4. A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of plates having leaf holdingprongs projecting therefrom, means for hingedly connecting the innerlongitudinal edge portions of the plates together and limitingv theirtions of the plates for yieldingly holding the,V plates in open orclosed position, a reinforclng plate for attachment to a book cover,

and a locking bar engaging the reinforcingplate andthe loops of thesprings forconlnecting the parts together.

5. A loose leaf binder, comprising a' pair of plates having leaf holdingprongs projecting therefrom, means for hingedly con.

e necting the inner longitudinal edge portions of the plates togetherand limiting their movements'to open or. closed position, a plu.

rality of looped springs having bent end lportions which engage theouter edge portions of the plates for yieldingly holding the plates inopen or closed position, a reinforcing plate for attachment to a bookcover and having upwardl projecting eyed Port-ions,

and a locking .ar extending through the` plate eyes and the spring loopsfor connect.-

ing the parts together.

6. A loose leaf binder,'compr1sing a pair of plates having/leafholdingprongs projecting therefrom, angular tie members hingedlyconnecting the inner edge portions o f the plates together, a pluralityof looped `springs having' bent end portions which engage notched edgeport1ons of the outer edgev portions of the plates for yieldinglyholding the plates in open or closed position, a reinforcing plate forattachment to a book cover and having upwardly projecting eyed portionswhich overlap the loops of. the springs, and a locking bar extendingthrough the plate eyes and the spring loops for connecting the partstogether.

p 7: A loose leaf binder, comprising a pair of notchedv plates hav-ingleaf4 holding prongs projecting therefrom, the outer edge portions ofsaid plates being folded over vto form eyed portions, rods extendingthrough said eyes, a plurality of transversely extending looped springshaving bent ends which engage' the wires to yieldingly hold the platesin openand closed position, angular tie members interposed between andhingedly connecting the inner edge portions of the plates together, avreinforcing plate adapted to be connected-to a cover bac'k and havingeyed portions projecting therefrom, and a locking bar extending throughthe eyed. portions and the spring loops.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

'HENRY o. MILLER.

Witnesses:

A. L. Monsnnml E. SCHOWALTER.

